Waimea schools to provide updates on the coming school year during next community meeting

As students across Waimea prepare to return to the classroom, the Waimea Community Association will dedicate its August town meeting to celebrating the schools, educators, and mentors who help shape the community’s future.

Representatives from Waimea’s schools, including Kanu o ka ʻĀina New Century Public Charter School, Waimea Country School, Waimea Elementary School, Waimea Middle Public Conversion Charter School, Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy, and Parker School, will each provide updates on the coming school year, including new programs, initiatives, and opportunities they are excited to share with the community.

As part of the evening, each school will also recognize a staff member or team whose dedication exemplifies the impact K-12 educators have on Waimea’s keiki.

“Education has always been one of the cornerstones of the Waimea community,” said Waimea Community Association President Nancy Carr Smith. “This meeting is an opportunity not only to hear what’s happening across our schools but to recognize the extraordinary educators who inspire, encourage, and invest in our children every single day. Their work strengthens the entire community.”

The meeting also serves as an important reminder that the new school year brings increased traffic throughout Waimea. With students returning to campuses in early August, Waimea Community Association encourages residents to drive with extra care, slow down in school zones, and remain alert for keiki and ʻohana walking or crossing roadways.

The meeting’s nonprofit spotlight will feature the Waimea Middle School Mentoring Program, which pairs volunteer mentors with students in sixth through eighth grade who are referred or request a mentor themselves. Mentors often remain with the same student throughout middle school and create consistent relationships that foster confidence, resilience, and academic success.

Program coordinator Ilene Grossman, Principal Janice English, and several participating students will present due to growing interest in the program and a need for additional community volunteers, particularly male mentors.

“One caring adult can make a tremendous difference in a young person’s life,” said Carr Smith. “The Waimea Middle School Mentoring Program is a beautiful example of neighbors investing in the next generation, and we hope this spotlight inspires more members of our community to step forward and serve as mentors.”

As always for spotlighted nonprofit projects and organizations, Waimea Community Association will pass the basket after the presentation to encourage a tax-deductible donation to support the Waimea Middle School’s mentoring program.

The meeting will also include a special tribute honoring the life and legacy of beloved educator and mentor Patricia “Pat” Rice, who recently passed away.

A pillar of the Waimea community, Rice dedicated her life to serving others and made an immeasurable impact through her years at Waimea Middle School, where she mentored generations of students and teachers to help shape countless lives with compassion, wisdom, and unwavering encouragement. Waimea Community Association will recognize her enduring contributions and the legacy she leaves behind in the community she loved.

Doors open at 5 p.m., with light refreshments and an opportunity to connect with neighbors before the program begins. Community members are encouraged to attend, learn about the upcoming school year, celebrate local educators, and discover ways to become involved in supporting Waimea’s youth.

The meeting will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6, at the W. M. Keck Observatory Headquarters’ Jerry Nelson Conference Room and is free and open to the public.

Community members interested in joining the Waimea Community Association as a member can submit a membership form with dues on the website or mail it to Waimea Community Association at P.O. Box 2622, Kamuela, HI 96743.

For more information about the Waimea Community Association and upcoming meetings, visit the website or follow the organization on social media.